Cote de Pablo To Return As Ziva In 'NCIS' Season 13, As Michael Weatherly Prepares For Exit?

Sorry fans, but Cote de Pablo won't be making a comeback on "NCIS" season 13 as Ziva David to help Michael Weatherly make a memorable exit from the show.

This much was revealed by CBS entertainment president Glenn Geller during the Television Critics Association's winter press tour in Pasadena, reported TV Line. 

Weatherly, one of the remaining original NCIS cast members, is set to make his curtain call as Special Agent Tony DiNozzo in the hit crime series' season 13 finale. 

Long-time followers have been clamoring for Cote de Pablo to make a re-appearance on "NCIS" season 13 in order to make the reunion of Ziva and Michael Weatherly's DiNozzo a reality and facilitate the latter's graceful exit.  

In fact, in a poll conducted by TV Line, revealed that 32 percent of respondents wanted to see the pair reunite for the last time.

"They are working on how Michael's character is going to be written out," Geller told TVLine in interview [Showrunner] Gary [Glasberg] and the producers are working on that right now."

"I will definitely miss - as I'm sure the fans will, as well as my mother - Special Agent Tony DiNozzo. [Weatherly's] decision was his," the producer continued.

"It was a creative one. He had been in the role for 13 years, and I completely understand it, and I wish him well," he added.

In an earlier interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Glasberg disclosed that "NCIS" season 13 would focus on DiNozzo's love life, although he did not say if Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo's Ziva would come together for the actor's planned exit from the show.

"Down the road, we'll continue to delve into the love life of Tony DiNozzo, and there might be some surprises for people a little further down the road into the season on that one, especially for our diehard fans," the producer said.

Will fans finally see the return of Cote de Pablo as Ziva David in "NCIS" season 13?